"Feeling very proud": Praveen Kumar on being declared as recipient of Khel Ratna
Indian Para-Athlete Praveen Kumar Celebrated for Arjuna Award Nomination
In New Delhi, Indian para-athlete Praveen Kumar expressed immense pride after being nominated for the Arjuna Award. He believes this recognition will inspire him to excel in future competitions. Praveen made history in the T64 high jump event with an Asian record-breaking jump of 2.08 meters, securing India's sixth gold medal. India achieved a record seven gold medals at the Paralympic event.
Praveen shared his excitement, stating, "I am feeling very proud and motivated to perform better in the upcoming competitions. In the Paris Paralympic, I won the gold medal for the nation."
Prestigious Khel Ratna Awards
Alongside Praveen, double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker, World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, and Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh have been honored with the Khel Ratna Award, as announced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.
Arjuna Awards for Outstanding Athletes
Several athletes have been recognized with the Arjuna Awards for their exceptional performances in 2024. These include Indian men's hockey players Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, and women's hockey team captain Salima Tete. Chess grandmaster Vantika Agrawal and athlete Jyothi Yarraji are also among the awardees.
Para athletes Preeti Pal, Jeevanji Deepthi, Ajeet Singh, Sachin Sarjerao Khilari, Dharambir, Pranav Soorma, Hokato Sema, Simran, and Navdeep will receive Arjuna Awards. Olympic medalists Swapnil Suresh Kusale and Sarabjot Singh, along with Para-Olympic shooters Mona Agarwal and Rubina Francis, have also been honored.
Dronacharya Award for Coaching Excellence
Former Dempo FC and East Bengal head coach Armando Agnelo Colaco has been awarded the Dronacharya Award in the lifetime category.
The award ceremony will be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025, where President Droupadi Murmu will present the awards.
Doubts Revealed
Para-athlete
A para-athlete is a person with a physical disability who competes in sports. They participate in events like the Paralympics, which are similar to the Olympics but for athletes with disabilities.
Arjuna Award
The Arjuna Award is a prestigious award given by the Indian government to recognize outstanding achievement in national sports. It is named after Arjuna, a hero from the Indian epic Mahabharata.
T64 high jump
T64 is a classification in para-athletics for athletes with leg impairments who compete with a prosthesis. The high jump is an event where athletes jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights.
Paralympics
The Paralympics are a major international sports competition for athletes with disabilities. They are held shortly after the Olympic Games and feature various sports adapted for para-athletes.
Khel Ratna Award
The Khel Ratna Award is India's highest sporting honor, given for outstanding performance in sports. It is officially known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
President Droupadi Murmu
Droupadi Murmu is the President of India, a position similar to the head of state. She is responsible for various ceremonial duties and represents India at official events.
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